While the pop sound between Europe (particularly Britain) and America differs, British group Gomez released their second album, Liquid Skin, with a sound similar to that of American pop.

Gomez undoubtedly is a group that mirrors the American pop sounds of Pearl Jam and Dave Matthews Band with an added layer of British sensibility.

In fact, band member Tom Gray adds a distinguished, raspy sound to vocals that is strikingly similar to the vocal sound of Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder — only Gray, unlike Vedder, does not overpower the overall vocal essence, saturating the group's sound with tone-deaf screams in an attempt to add intensity to the music. Rather, in Liquid Skin, Gray's voice is not always prevalent, which does allow for other members' vocal additions to the album's excellently diverse sound.

Liquid Skin begins with the track "Hangover," which offers that American pop sound sneaking up slowly from the beginning of the track. The guitar work on this track is nothing special, although the ingenious use of effects on the guitars helps the band capture a distinct sound. This sound is created with the addition of some Eastern instruments, perhaps spawning from the group's musical tastes. Their favorite albums? The Beatles' Revolver and Hendrix's Electric Ladyland.

While the monotonous beat of "Revolutionary Kind" has the potential to drive one insane, this track provides an introduction to the vague eurotrash/techno aspect of their sound that fortunately only remains predominant on this song. On the other hand, the eurotrash aspect that exists on Liquid Skin definitely adds an unusually distinct psychedelic sound that undeniably places it a step above the sounds of American pop music.

Gomez does not emit that hard-core rock sound one might have expected to find on Liquid Skin, yet their truly mellow tracks such as "We Haven't Turned Around" differ from their prevalent chill sound. The only drawback to this overall tempered sound is that the lyrics fall just a bit short of exceptional.

Liquid Skin nonetheless proves to be a great album. Listen to the track "Rosalita" with its great lyrics, intricate guitar work and awesome chord progression that makes one's spine tingle, and you definitely won't be disappointed you purchased the album. And besides, aren't you sick of that bland ol' American pop/rock sound?

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